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Lightning kills 74 people across India in one day

While lightning strikes are common in India’s monsoon season, the death toll is unusually high and is likely to go up

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Dozens in India were killed by lightning as monsoon storms swept through several states Tuesday.

By Associated Press

Wed., June 22, 2016

PATNA, INDIA—Lightning has killed 74 people, mostly farm labourers working in fields, across eastern and northern India over the past 24 hours, officials said Wednesday.

A majority of the deaths occurred in the eastern state of Bihar, where 57 people died after being struck by lightning, a state official said. At least 24 others were injured when thunderstorms and monsoon rains lashed 14 districts of the state.

Ten people were killed by lightning in neighbouring Jharkhand state, six in northern Uttar Pradesh state, and another in Maharashtra, police said.

Bihar disaster management official Vyasji said scores of cattle also perished in the state after being struck by lightning.

The dead included at least eight shepherds watching their sheep, said Vyasji, who uses only one name. He told reporters that he expected the death toll to go up as reports come in from remote districts of the state.

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Lightning strikes are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September. However, the recent toll is unusually high.

At least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NARINDER NANU / AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

At least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

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